My Mexican friends' difficult choice

Over the past couple of months, a Mexican friend of mine has been harassed by two policement demanding he sell drugs and split the profits with them. Up front I'll tell you when he was a teenager, he was hanging out with friends on a corner in Guadalajara when a patrol truck stopped.

Several police got out and began harassing the kids and one policeman, unprovoked, pulled out his pistol and shot my friends lifelong best friend. Nothing was reported, the policman was never charged.

My friend could not live with this. That so many people had witnessed such a blatant killing by a cop in the presence of other cops who said nothing, on a public street but were too afraid to report it.

So my friend, full of wrath, gets a pistol, waits one night til the assassin cop and his partners stop to harass another group, pulls out the pistol and kills the cop in front of everyone who knew why. He dropped the gun, the police beat him nearly to death, he was tried, sentenced and sent to prison for 7 years.

In prison he acquired several tatoos and began wearing his hair back with a ponytail, this makes him look like a cholo (gangster) though in fact he's a very nice guy, honest and trustworthy. He doesn't smoke or do drugs and makes his living cutting lawns and doing odd jobs.

Unfortunately, here in Mexico the drug culture has corrupted some police officers for profit and for some, under threat of death for them and/or their families should they resist or interfere with drug trafficking.

Now I've known my friend for about 3 years now and he has washed my truck, cut my grass, cleaned up my backyard and whatever other chores I pay him to do.

I knew some of the police beat Mexicans and are almost never reported since most are afraid of them. I know many police and on good terms with them but they treat extranjeros (foreigners) differently than how they treat Mexicans, especially if you don't have a regular job with family or wife to fall back on. The few who are rotten, crooked cops prey on single guys, beating them, stealing from then and trying to make them sell drugs as they have done to my friend.

Maybe four months ago he was very worried and began telling me there was one local cop who had threatened to kill him and dump his body in the country if he didn't sell drugs and split the profits. He showed me two cellphone messages from this cop and I urged him to print them out as evidence. He doesn't know the name of the cop but describes him as white hair and fat, not a clue.

He came by today and was very worried and almost crying. He said this rotten cop had teamed up with some city official to file a false demanda accusing him of being caught with a gun. He has no gun but he fears the cop is setting him up to be killed.

The cop told him a warrant would be filed with his ID card and photo that this cop took from him, in the presence of his partners. The cop told him you WILL sell drugs for me or I WILL file the demanda in 8 days (due in a few days).

My friend tells me they can easily shoot or stab him and claim he was involved with drugs or gang activity which got him killed, so he would die an ignominious death on the whim of a crooked cop.

I don't have a clue how to help him. He was shaking and almost crying, left with no options. His sister lives in Guad and will let him stay for short visits but not live with them because they don't have the space.

He has no one to help him and the only way I can see for him out of this is to hire a lawyer and he will wind up paying a big bribe (multa) to the cop to recant and cancel the fake charges. But he will still be beating up my friend and 'insisting' he sell drugs if he remains in his small town.

Having been here long enough to have heard of these outrages, no one I know has actually been embroiled in one of them.

He tells me he has spoken to the commandant but because of his record of a vengeance killing of a cop, his word has no value to any cop or court. It is the crooked cops word against him. I know him and he can barely afford food everyday, let alone a pistol or even bullets for it!

It is not my business or my culture but I feel so sorry for him to be put in this position when he never bothers or hurts anyone. I told him he has only a few more days to decide and move on that decision, else they will find him, throw him in jail, possibly kill him to avoid the paperwork and thats that. He knows this and says he is thinking he'll have to live out in the country, living in a cave, having to hunt for or steal food just to survive.

How can he fight this false warrant and charges if no one will believe him? He has no money, regular income or support system to help him out. In the states there are pro bono attorneys and groups who will help out in such cases but here, I don't have a clue.

Tried to calm him down and make him think clearly.....my suggestions to him;

1) I will ask my lawyer what he would recommend but in the meantime, he must
2) change his cholo look to not stick out so much
3) pack his clothes and move to another town where no one knows him
4) start fresh, stay under the radar until he figures a way to fight this
5) there is the option of a fake ID but the tatoos give him away
6) there is also the option of fighting fire with fight to retrain this crooked cop

Most of these cost money he doesn't have and time he no longer has. He kept saying he only has a few days more so we devised a plan that will spirit him away to find a new life. As I understand it this warrant to date is a threat, maybe just a printout with his ID card and photo to scare him since he knows nothing about such things.

Who knows how deeply involved this cop and others might be with organized drug gangs who think nothing of taking a life, so I'm not in any position to be taking a stance or risking my own life trying to help him out.

No question I feel very sorry for him to be in such a position and I don't see any quick way out of it...so best thing is to buy time and maybe it won't even happen.

Of course we worked out a plan that we both think will save his skin, get him a chance for a new life and possibly it all goes away. I don't know but I will speak with my lawyer and maybe something else will turn up to bail him out of this miserable situation inflicted on him by a corrupt cop and a corrupt city official. If it has even been filed or recorded.

I told him it would so help to have the names of these guys but he doesn't know that...best I can do is help with this plan and front him some money to make it so.

We were very sad to say adios for such idiotic nonsense, but this could be a deadly situation for him, so best to change his life. So unfair...we will maintain contact and I'll see if my honest police friends can find some things out for me, specifically has a warrant been issued for him?

Perhaps there will be no actual warrant and its just a scare tactic...for now, it sucks for my friend who has to leave his house and possessions to save his life.

Count your blessings for your families, friends and honest cops who have better things to do than harass citizens for mischief, pleasure or profit.

This follows what happens in many states in Mexico where drug cartels force farmers to grow drug crops under threat of death, or they STEAL THE LAND, kill the farmer and his family or run them off with NO MONEY PAID for what they took.

The best thing the USA and Mexico could possibly do is learn from Prohibition, legalize drugs and copy Portugals' way of dealing with addictions.

The wars stop INSTANTLY, people can buy recreational drugs at will and pay taxes which will help support treatment centers for addicts. I don't do drugs but I know not everyone becomes an addict, oftimes destroying their lives in the process.

Gave my friend enough money for food, travel and some setup, then we hugged with some tears...so sad..such a good guy, he doesn't deserve this. I told him it might turn out to be a good thing for him, to find another place where he can build his own family and life. Wished him good luck and we will stay in touch. So sad...

How many illegal aliens are in the U.S.?

Imagine recovering 10-20 million (or more) jobs for legal citizens which are currently LOST to illegals from all countries - Our illegal immigration numbers are based on an estimated twenty million illegal aliens having been present in our nation as of January 1, 2004.

The Tucson sector Border Patrol union local 2544 on the number of illegal aliens in our nation: "There are currently 15 to 20 million illegal aliens in this country by many estimates, but the real numbers could be much higher and the numbers increase every day because our borders are not secure (no matter what the politicians tell you - don't believe them for a second)".

In agreement with Senator McCain, we believe that an increase of 10,000 total additional illegal aliens added to the United States population each day. This reflects figures that include illegal aliens successfully entering our nation combined with those who overstay their visas. We are of the educated opinion that we are conservatively low in our estimation.

President George W. Bush and then Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, used a figure of "8-12 million" illegal aliens in December 2003. Other reports - including one recently released by the Pew Hispanic Center and figures used by the Center for Immigration Studies quoting 10 - 11 million illegal aliens present in the U.S. - rely heavily on U.S. Census data that many, we at TAR included, believe to be incomplete, inaccurate and artificially low.

An independent study of the underground economy released in January 2005 by the Wall Street financial firm Bear Stearns, The Underground Labor Force is Rising to the Surface, produced estimates of 18-20 million illegal aliens present in the United States.

(Estimates vary from 12-15 million legal citizens are unemployed in 2010.)

The Arizona legislation, signed April 23 by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, is similar to Reglamento de la Ley General de Poblacion — the General Law on Population enacted in Mexico in April 2000, which mandates that federal, local and municipal police cooperate with federal immigration authorities in that country in the arrests of illegal immigrants.

Here's a Thought
Let's adopt Mexico's laws

All of those criticizing Arizona's new anti-immigration law are absolutely correct! It is so unfair! Instead of mimicking existing federal law like it does now, Arizona should enact laws similar to Mexico's. By applying the same standards to illegal immigration as Mexico, Arizona and the U.S. as a whole should:

1. make illegal immigration a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison;

2. deported illegals that re-enter should be imprisoned for 10 years;

3. visa violators sentenced to six years;

4. helping illegal immigrants would be a felony; and

5. deport foreigners who are deemed detrimental to economic or national interests and those who are not "physically or mentally healthy" or lack the "necessary funds for their sustenance" and for their dependents.

I haven't heard a single charge of racism concerning Mexican immigration policy, so logic would follow that (if they are so happy with the immigration laws in their country, they will be equally happy with their own countries laws applied to them as illegal immigrants in the US), then all of the current critics of Arizona's law could be happy. It's a win-win situation! - M.J. Lewis - Full Article Source

My Solutions

These are subject to modification, change or deletion at my personal whim.

It seems to me there are very clear solutions to a number of issues the USA and other countries are dealing with;

Problem #1: The Drug War in Mexico and the USA

My Solution: Legalize drugs and the wars stop since you would then be able to buy them anywhere. Drug use is a personal thing which the government has no business meddling with. Follow the basic law of Huna...'Hurt No One' which I modified long ago to 'Hurt no one with Intent'. As long as you hurt no one and damage no one else's property, then you can do as you wish. If you choose to destroy your body and mind, it is your choice and the world will be a better place as the abusers die off. Prisons will be cleared out for all drug cases and keep in mind it costs approximately $40,000 per year to keep a person in jail. The money saved from prison costs in addition to the taxes paid on legal drug sales will bring in huge amounts of money as well as quench all drug dealing competition since anything can be bought legally and taxed.

Problem #2: The current 'Pirate' Problem

My Solution: All ships have radios. As one guy suggested on a radio talk show, send in one or two US aircraft carriers with F16 fighter planes. When a ship is under attack, a call is made to the carrier, an F16 is deployed to assess the situation. As with the Universal Policeman robot Gort from 'The Day the Earth Stood Still', the attacking ships will simply be blown out of the water. No capture, no sympathy, just wipe them out as marauding attackers. In time, the pirates will be so decimated or too scared of fatal retribution to try anything, the problem will be resolved.

Problem #3: Bailouts by government

My Solution: LET ALL FAILED/FAILING BUSINESSES GO BANKRUPT, no matter the size. The beauty of capitalism is it is self-correcting, sometimes painful but it will correct. Failed companies will be bought out and restructured or others will take their place. The government does not have the right or the business to bailout anyone using our money.

Problem #4: The US in other countries

My Solution: Let them stand or fall on their own without our interference. Close the overseas bases, bring all our troops home and use the troops to reinforce our borders and help out in national disasters (weather induced) until we get a working immigration policy.

Problem #5: The continuing Immigration problem

My Solution: Tag all foreigners legally entering the USA as visitors with GPS or RFID implants or special bracelets/collars. Not only can we track their movements but we can find them when their time is up to insure they leave per the entry/exit permits. For illegal immigrants, punish the employers and require all employers to use E-Verify as protection for their business. When people are here illegally and can't get a job, they have no choice but to return to their own country until they can re-enter legally. Other countries do NOT TOLERATE illegals and import them instantly when found out, so why should the US.

Problem #6: What about Illegal immigrants who have lived many years in the US?

My Solution: If they have been here illegally over a year and have investments in the form of homes, US registered vehicles, long term employment, etc. give them one year to apply for citizenship, legal social security numbers and another year to gain them. If they choose NOT to follow our laws, then they must leave no matter their investment gained illegally. Those illegals without vested assets are to be deported asap. And for all immigrants, the USA is an English speaking nation, all government documents and correspondence are to be in English and never offered in other languages. Immigrants must be required to learn English and understand they are now Americans, loyal to their new country.

Problem #7: Nation Building and Interference in other countries

My Solution: It is not the purpose or function of the US government to build or rebuild any nation. Nor is it our business to invade any other country unless they directly attack our shores.

Problem #8: Adhere to the Constitution

My Solution: More like Ron Pauls' solution, return to the Constitution. All government employees and servants have sworn to follow the constitution and when they do not, they should be held liable and fired from their jobs. Stop the Terrorist propaganda, restore our lost or diminished rights STOLEN by the Homeland Security paranoia. Allow easy and gestapo-less travel for US citizens within and without our country. Note that more people are killed in car accidents, from cancer and other illnesses than were EVER killed by the terrorist paranoia. If such attacks happen on our soil and clear culprits identified, then we deal with it on a case by case basis. Not chastising all citizens and inducing an endless state of paranoia around every corner. Return the USA to pre-911 freedoms and terminate the new big business of Homeland Security with its associated evils and restrictions for personal rights and liberties.

Problem #9: Return to Personal Responsibility

My Solution: Due to idiotic liability laws, the country has turned into a nation of whiners and blamers. No one is accountable for their actions or failures. Instead they blame everyone else and try to sue to compensate for their failures. People think what can I get out of this when something happens to them, instead of how they can fix it for themselves. In most cases, we create our own hell and miseries. It is part of the life process to learn and grow from our failures, but not if we are encouraged and allowed to blame others and hold them responsible. That also goes for this weird sense of entitlement where people think they are OWED something by the government or by others. You are entitled to NOTHING. See the Bill of NO RIGHTS for further clarification.

Problem #10: Accountability

My Solution: Leaders, both political and in business should be held strictly responsible for their actions (as should we all) if those actions violate laws. Why should they get away with it just because they are high profile? The simple fact that politicians and government servants swear to uphold and follow the constitution, yet when in office, violate that oath, makes them criminals and they should be punished for intentionally violating a sworn oath.

these for starters...